The iControlPad was one of the first iPhone-compatible game controllers to hit the market. It was a bit bulky, and didn’t garner much developer support. But nevertheless, it was a pioneer.

Well it looks like the folks behind the accessory, Product 3 LLC, haven’t been resting on their laurels. They just announced the new iControlPad 2, and it comes with a host of new features…

The group says that the inspiration for iControlPad 2 mostly came from user feedback. They’ve made several adjustments, including adding a 55-key keyboard and additional rapid fire keys.

Also, the controller’s housing is now made of both metal and plastic, for more durability, and the phone cradle has also been upgraded. And, it can game for 12-14 hours straight on a single charge.

But perhaps the most interesting thing about the gamepad is that it’s completely open source. It will connect to almost anything — iOS and Android devices, Macs, PCs, Linux systems. If you’re building a mechanical robot and need a controller, this will work. It’s completely hackable.

Product 3 says that it has working prototypes, and it’s enlisted the help of Kickstarter to raise $150,000 to start production. If you want one, a pledge of $69 gets you on the pre-order list.

The iControlPad2 may not look as refined or polished as some of the other iPhone-friendly gamepads out there. But if it’s aimed at hackers and hardware-modders, it doesn’t have to.

From the developers Kickstarter: “No need for App support: The iControlPad2 will work with almost any app, whether it supports it or not. Thanks to new overlay software, you can map the iControlPad2 controls and keys to screen presses in iOS or Android. Just map your favorite app and start playing; you will be amazed at the advantage real controls give you. See the video for a demonstration.”… It’s still in a grey area. I may get one. I really feel this product is promising.

I went ahead and backed this project with the $75 choice, full finished packaged product with USB and clip. Can’t wait to try this thing. I waited long enough not buying a navigation app for apple to release their own native navigation; I’m not about to wait another half decade for a remote ;). I’ll be back to review!